Zhao Hanzhang, filled with regret, led her troops out of Shangdang, unable to savor the buns of Shangdang.
After traveling a considerable distance, they stopped to rest, taking the opportunity to gnaw on some dry rations.
Zhao Hanzhang took a bite of the crumbly cake in her hand, chewing fiercely while opening the map. She pinpointed the location Shi Le had reported last time, contemplating where Wang Zhang and Shi Le might enter Shangdang.
Avoiding the route they might take, Zhao Hanzhang pointed westward and said, "We'll return from here and send someone to find Xun Xiu, asking him to return to defend Luoyang."
Zeng Yue, somewhat unwilling, said, "Madam, we're already in Shangdang. Zhang Tao is negligible; why not seize Shangdang in one stroke?"
"And then?" Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Would we be trapped in Shangdang, caught in endless wars?"
She declared, "War can only have one purpose: to profit!"
